Linux powers cordless videophone

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Jan. 23, 2006

Dutch telecom service provider KPN recently began shipping a Linux-powered cordless videophone in the Netherlands. The VP5500 uses "established standards-based technologies like WiFi and Linux," and will become available elsewhere in Europe in 2006, according to consumer electronics giant Philips, manufacturer of the device.

(Click here for larger view of the VP5500)

Philips VP5500
(Click to enlarge)

The VP5500 is a cordless SIP (session initiation protocol) VoIP (voice-over-IP) phone with an integrated VGA (640 x 480) CMOS camera and 2.2-inch QCIF-resolution (176 x 144) progressive-backlit display supporting 65K colors. The camera can be rotated 240 degrees, and offers zooming and brightness adjustments.

The VP5500 has audio and TV out. When cabled to a TV monitor, it can display inbound video in CIF resolution (352 x 288) video, and local video in QCIF resolution.

Regardless of output device, the phone is capable of rendering video at framerates up to CIF spec, i.e. 30fps, Philips claims.

The VP5500 can display both parties' images, and has TV and audio out
(Click to enlarge)

Additional claimed features include:

Freeze outgoing image
Capture stills during calls, or offline
Voice-only call mode
Speakerphone
Ring profiles, and fifteen polyphonic ring melodies
Emergency call feature
Customizable wallpaper
100-contact addressbook with photos
Standards-compliant wireless stack
- 802.11b/g (up to 54Mbps)
- 802.11e (quality-of-service)
- 802.11l (security)
WiFi signal strength indicator
16dBm RF (radio frequency) power
1MB user data storage

KPN's director of consumer markets, Michiel Buitelaar, stated, "The KPN InternetPlusBellen Service will provide interoperability with other videophones, with the InternetPlusBellen online web videophone, and with UMTS videophones, thus enabling a vast network of consumers to call each other in high quality video."

Availability

The VF5500 is available now in the Netherlands, through KPN. Availability elsewhere in Europe is expected later, pending operator interest.

Royal Philips Electronics is based in the Netherlands, and with revenues of $37,709.6M and profits of $3,527.3M, ranked 116th on Fortune magazine's 2005 Global 500 list.

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